Just so concerned about this country

[ninnynonny]

To be honest, we, as a family are 'ok'. We're by no means well off but have a reasonable income and not huge outgoings (at the moment); but I am so worried about the state of the country economically. Just watching the national and local news today - the cost of living is insane; the Government is a huge mess - with no sign of any of them giving a monkeys about the populus, and so many thousands of people are struggling and will be in a terrible position over the next few months.
How on earth is this sustainable? What is going to happen when people simply cannot afford to, well, live, basically.
I work in the homelessness sector and can only see more families and individuals coming through the doors - and with massive funding cuts, honestly, what will happen?
I'm feeling a little hysterical over it all, for want of a better word!!
Will things improve - what has to happen?

I really do fear for my local area. In Wales 1 in 4 households live in poverty, we are the poorest nation, and with cost of living starting to soar I fear we will rise to 2 in 4 households living in poverty! It's just unimaginable. Millions of people unable to heat their homes, eat, pay the rent, child poverty rates are going to shoot up and their outcomes decline.

I'm not sure what can be done and if some here can ride it out. It's awful.

I think when you work in an area where you see how shit some proples lives are, you understand how precarious things are for alot of people. A job loss, accident, mental health crisis - all these can land people requesting homeless assistance.
You also know how everything else in the public sector was barely hanging together by a thread. And that's now broken. Social care and health are in tatters. When you don't see this you can pretend its not happening and close your eyes and ears to the news reports etc.
This government does not believe in "helping" peoples lives improve. It really doesn't care how many lives are lived in dire circumstances as long as the state isn't footing the bill.

@canbage

The housing market has fucked the country & yes I'm a home owner. It's ridiculous to have so much income tied up in housing, not good for productivity, not good for social cohesion.

The housing market is booming because of demand. It will go even higher because of the growth in population.

I’ve been having sleepless nights too. We’re literally counting every penny at the moment. Our fixed rate mortgage comes to an end in November, with gas and electric going up I don’t know how we will get by. My daughter is only 5 months, we can’t let the house get too cold for her obviously so we have to put the heating on. Our house is cold and not energy efficient but can’t afford anything to fix it. DP is starting a new job on more money in a few months but it’ll wipe out the measly UC we get so we will be no better off really. I’ll have to go back to work but after childcare we will be no better off either. If it wasn’t for her I think I might genuinely top myself I feel so sick and scared and miserable.

Lots of people who are struggling and falling through the cracks probably hide it. I know I do.

The energy bills issue seems bonkers. I'm not an economist at all, but why are they going up so insanely?

GB news said the government's policy of net zero means energy prices will keep rising and rising and rising..

[quote Wrongkindofovercoat]@LightSpeeds and of course they can claim for their utilitiy bills on their second property if their constituency is outside London.[/quote]
Argh. This. This is the type of thing that I just do not understand. I may be naive hut how can people.with so much money want more and genuinely not feel anything towards the thousands who have nothing, who use food banks, don't eat so their children can, sit in the dark and cold because they can't afford light or heat?
What makes some humans so heartless?

Hardly anyone is going to like what I am going to say next. But I will say it anyway, then duck. It needs to be said.
As a country[and we are not the only ones], we have become less Christian as the years are going on. We are becoming less blessed by God. There, I have said it.

I see so many huge new expensive housing developments it makes me feel overwhelmed by the volume of people being crammed into already crowded city spaces.
The rich just get richer. Life is unfair as we know sadly.

@Stripyhoglets1

I think when you work in an area where you see how shit some proples lives are, you understand how precarious things are for alot of people. A job loss, accident, mental health crisis - all these can land people requesting homeless assistance. You also know how everything else in the public sector was barely hanging together by a thread. And that's now broken. Social care and health are in tatters. When you don't see this you can pretend its not happening and close your eyes and ears to the news reports etc. This government does not believe in "helping" peoples lives improve. It really doesn't care how many lives are lived in dire circumstances as long as the state isn't footing the bill.

Yes.

@lightand

Hardly anyone is going to like what I am going to say next. But I will say it anyway, then duck. It needs to be said. As a country[and we are not the only ones], we have become less Christian as the years are going on. We are becoming less blessed by God. There, I have said it.

And as a church going Christian I say, wtf do you think Jesus is going to do about energy price rises. Are Jesus, Peter, Thomas and Co going to set up a new not for profit low cost energy firm? Is Jesus going to produce electricity and gas from his arse for us to use for free 🤔

Well.

So much written is very true; but, if we take pause, it's - if not 'comforting' but certainly 'consoling' to know that where we are now is actually what we, asa nation, want.

We voted forBrexit, despite the many voices telling us of the economic and environmental hit that would entail- hell, even arch-tiff-Brexiteer Rich-Smugg told us it'd take 50 years to reap the benefits; but, we're okay with that.

Then we re-voted in the sleaziest, most corrupt, self-serving 'elite' party of modern times. Who continue to 'do what they do', as before.

We need to own this shit. This is what we voted for.

Obvs I didn't. But, my care for my fellow man aside, we actually, as a country need the self-reckoning, the slapping that is coming our way. We need, collectively to become rather humbled by what's heading our way.

Only in this way, given that 'education' and 'simple intelligence', let alone 'critical thinking skills' haven't yet triumphed in our general populace; maybe want and misery will deliver the changes we need.

I mean, FPTP v. PR? So simple, so obvious, but- nah.

Many of us have the ability to weather this oncoming shit show. The have/have not gulf will yawn, as in the USA. It may well get ugly.

I care for the losers in this divide, but far less than I did 6 years ago. Beds made, duly laid upon.

@Gilead

Which European countries?. Spain for instance do not have the benefits we have here. Not that I encourage those unless as a safety net temporarily.
About jobs of course there are plenty of opportunities or are you suggesting the unemployment rate is high than other EU countries here? People come to work here from all over the world. From finance and tech to waiting tables and nanny jobs and Uber.

The housing market is booming because of demand. It will go even higher because of the growth in population.

Are you saying it's nothing to do with low interest rates, QE & inflation of assets?

Lolanento; yes, there are certainly many, many minimum wage, zero hour, gig jobs available now. That's very true.

Tory and Brexit bonus!

Yay.

@lightand

Hardly anyone is going to like what I am going to say next. But I will say it anyway, then duck. It needs to be said. As a country[and we are not the only ones], we have become less Christian as the years are going on. We are becoming less blessed by God. There, I have said it.

If you feel that faith helps why not.

@canbage

The housing market is booming because of demand. It will go even higher because of the growth in population.

Are you saying it's nothing to do with low interest rates, QE & inflation of assets?

Oh Canbadge, you tease. 😂😂😊

Bexit has fucked the UK sideways and it's only just started.

@Georgeskitchen

Watching the news tonight , interviewed a single mother who was struggling to feed her kid. Beautifully coiffeured hair, false eyelashes, sculpted eyebrows. Looked expensively made up. Speaks volumes

Speaks volumes about you

The only thing stopping me from spiralling into despair about my own situation is the reality that life will be even more difficult for most of the families I look after whilst working in the community. It really is shit.

@Fordian

Lolanento; yes, there are certainly many, many minimum wage, zero hour, gig jobs available now. That's very true.

Tory and Brexit bonus!

Yay.

Yes, there are countries where there is nothing at all . No jobs. I know plenty of people that started in gig jobs in this country and have progressed. It is possible. The government is not preventing people to do it. However, my point was that there are much worse places than the U.K. and that the crisis is global. I really do not care of others agree.

A very comforting comment for those of us who struggle with anxiety, thank you.

@Lolamento. Unemployment benefits in Spain are 70% of your wage for six months. You are also entitled to free health care. They provide disability benefits and maternity benefits too.
As for people working here from abroad, we are haemorrhaging tech staff, lecturers, doctors and nurses due to the bloody Brexit rules.
You haven’t answered any questions you have just spouted the usual bullshit of plenty of this and that and benefits as a last resort. I suspect you know nothing of the hoops benefits claimants have to jump through to prove they are worthy of a pittance that actually isn’t enough to live on.

@Opal8 we just have to keep trying I suppose, and keep going, because if we don't, sure as hell aren't going to get any help from anyone else 🥲

Yes, there are countries where there is nothing at all . No jobs.

The good old race to the bottom 😴